Anything that spells an end to Genentech would benefit the world in so many ways. This company may be the poster-child for biotech, but they are also a poster-child for providing incomplete information to the FDA, and has harmed as many as they've helped with their discoveries as they go business model.

10:57 am January 14, 2009

Bob wrote :

The last comment by M is a crock. Cite some examples. I have no connection to Genentech other than working in the same industry, but DNA has long been THE standard bearer for the industry. Flawed? Absolutely. What risk-taking company isn't? Every company makes mistakes, but to not hold up DNA as an example of the best that biotech offers is ridiculous. I hope they continue to go it alone.

11:44 am January 14, 2009

Anonymous wrote :

I agree with Bob. DNA has some problems, but to say that they have harmed as many as they have helped, this statement is moronic.

11:49 am January 14, 2009

Not a DNA employee but informed wrote :

I agree with Bob. DNA has some problems, but to say that they have harmed as many as they have helped. This statement is moronic!!! Their late stage clinical trial program is the gold standard for safety in the industry. Anyway, I also hope they go it alone. Each time a deal like this has gone though, it has hurt innovation. It only makes sense, fewer players, less innovation.

1:32 pm January 14, 2009

A DNA Employee wrote :

M is clueless. And yes, as previously stated over and over...a Moron!

2:33 pm January 14, 2009

Not a DNA Employee wrote :

M is obviously just one of the people who hates the "drug industry". Genentech has a great reputation. Both its products and the companies it has spawned have saved 100,000's of lives. No doubt it has made mistakes but to suggest that it has made a business of lying to the FDA is just malicious slander without any basis in fact.

3:27 pm January 14, 2009

F Rizzo wrote :

M is obviously a d'bag.

3:40 pm January 14, 2009

Steve wrote :

Genentech has given away billion dollars worth of medicine over the last ten years. It seems difficult to believe that anyone who was a recipient of that free medicine would agree M's sentiment.

3:41 pm January 14, 2009

blu wrote :

You gotta love Art Levinson - the world needs more people like him...

3:59 pm January 14, 2009

gooday wrote :

All Biotech company have all good reputation, some are very good and some are not so good and some are not good at all. Some medicine may work or cure people that are sick and some medicine may not cure people that are sick.
I think this is the time to get everyone in the sma eplace and talk about how you guys will haelp other people that are sick and everyone should focus thier attention on a day to day work, and try not to worry to much, If Roche succeded, people will still benifits with the outcome, Yo9u people in GNE worried about Roche buying 44% of GNE stocks then look for another job so that you'll have a piece of mind.

4:53 pm January 14, 2009

Anonymous wrote :

M is a vag

6:07 pm January 14, 2009

What!? wrote :

Hey M god forbid you get Brain cancer and have to use Avastin to prolong your life! Oh it's not indicated for brain cancer ,yet. Well maybe M should wait until the FDA reviews all the information.

6:58 pm January 14, 2009

Anonymous wrote :

Saying M is a vag is an insult to vags

7:03 pm January 14, 2009

David wrote :

I have worked for DNA for 5 years. Came from Big Pharma. It's the best move I ever made- what a huge difference in culture. Art is a beloved CEO. He's more comfortable in jeans than a dark blue suit and tie, in contrast to most of the Wall Street types who run other Pharma/Biotech firms. Art is a scientist, and runs the company with that philosophical underpinning. Fortune magazine was spot-on when they picked DNA as the best company to work for in 2006. Not perfect, but still the best. Long live Genentech!

8:25 pm January 14, 2009

D wrote :

I worked for Genentech and sadly M is correct in many respects. Art may be beloved, but Genentech is also a poster child for big-pharma waste (like Bob Dylan and Elton John concerts), and beer and wine parties no normal company in modern business could get away with. And these wasteful expenditures are small compared with the billions wasted on cost-uncompetitive plants based in California. They survive on the success of a few inventions, developed by a few scientists, and the rest is a mess of waste and people hanging on. People slamming everyone who criticizes DNA need to take their blinders off; Genentech is NOT the great company they so arrogantly claim to be.

9:50 pm January 14, 2009

tracy trinidad wrote :

to (D) AN Employee who can’t accept the fact that you were not or could not become a contributor to the success of DNA as it is now. I hope the company gets bought out for 110.00 proving that you were just dead weight and had to go.

12:42 am January 15, 2009

Say What? wrote :

So if I am following D (whose "I worked for Genentech" statement as basis that you don't anymore for whatever reason), wanting to keep corporate operations close to where local talent is and optimizations can take place vs. shipping it to cheapest possible is bad leadership?

Yes, the company's employee parties earned a fame and likely costed a decent chunk but the company also has a broad base stock option plan, gives enough incentives to retain its top people over many years, and if you think about how much others companies spend in marketing, focuses on education rather that "get the green/purple/turqoise pill now, ask your doctor" type messaging.

Each company has flaws but Genentech seems to have done better done most, especially in the recent economic times.

2:28 am January 15, 2009

There and back again. wrote :

Coming from a current GNE employee who at one point left the company for big Pharma (career move that made my life miserable - mainly due to the corporate lifestyle that seemed boring and restrictive) before returning, I would pick GNE anyday of the week and twice on Sundays for how they treat their employees and the opportunities they provide.

3:08 am January 15, 2009

Em wrote :

Roche still needs to figure out what bank will fund their loan to buyout Genentech. In these times, I just don't see them getting the funds they need...

11:03 am January 15, 2009

Been there done that wrote :

D - You're a total tool and a D-bag. If you're slandering the parties Genentech has, you obviously never understood or fit in that culture. I think Genentech feels "good riddance" when it comes to you. The culture is to not stifle creativity with corporate douche-baggery, but to create a collegial comfortable environment where innovation is encouraged. As far as wasteful facilities in CA are concerned, every industry needs time to mature, for God's sake, in early 1900's the oil companies used to refine oil by leaving crude in a big pit and letting the light distillates just flash by themselves. It has come far along today, and so will biotech. DNA is a leader in their field, and I suspect sour grapes in your case. BTW, I do NOT work for DNA; just a well informed and well read person.

11:28 am January 15, 2009

Anonymous wrote :

Hey D Bag,

All the greats (i.e. Pfizer..) follow your model. Treat employees like crap, worship the bottom line, spend all of your time chasing me-too drugs, and outsource anything possible (to India and China). It's obvious what a huge win this strategy has been for them.

11:32 am January 15, 2009

DNAer wrote :

There is no such thing is a perfect company. However, just because DNA is not perfect, does not mean that in is not pretty darn good. If fact, heads above most others.

2:33 pm January 15, 2009

exDNA wrote :

The people who criticize DNA for its parties and employee perks have no idea how hard those people work to bring life saving drugs to market. There is nothing like the reward of a good party at the end of a long campaign. I worked there for twenty years and have nothing but respect for the company leadership and its products.

3:46 pm January 15, 2009

another ex-DNAer wrote :

Saying that you "worked for the company" can mean different things. Was D an employee or a temp or contracted worker? If the latter, perhaps the "wastefulness" of keeping employee moral up is jealousy; otherwise, you must have left (as stated by others) because of a bad cultural fit. As another former employee (who left to start my own company), I believe DNA is a great company to work for, with compassion for both its employees and customers--which I hope to instill in my own company.

3:55 pm January 15, 2009

Onlooker wrote :

DNA has a very generous employee stock and profit sharing plan. This is one of the ways they motivate the employees, if Genentech does well, the employees share in the wealth. So, then, you must ask yourselves why the average DNA employee hates the prospect of this merger (I mean takeover)? First, Roche has stated in public that the job cuts at DNA will be minimal. So they probably aren't too worried about their jobs. Second, as I stated before, the average DNA employee (my friend has 8,000 shares) will make a hefty sum if Roche comes in with a higher offer. So they aren't worried about getting shafted out of some money. In fact, most have a lot treasure to gain in the near term if this deal goes. It would seem that they must think this not the best long term deal for the company and shareholder. Now if the people on the inside with so much to gain think this is not such a good idea, why do you?

3:21 pm January 16, 2009

Cowboy wrote :

Roche has taken the bigDNA out at 112. After4:30

12:03 am October 29, 2009

MarkRight wrote :

Interesting story as for me. It would be great to read a bit more about that matter.

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